The warehouse remained eerily silent, the last remnants of the battle fading into the abyss. The scent of death and gunpowder still lingered, hanging heavy in the air, but Alexander's focus had already shifted elsewhere. His army had grown, and now it was time to test its latest addition.
Noctis stood before him, his form solid yet ever-shifting, as if the abyss itself was still settling within him. His armor-like plating gleamed with a dark luster, the shadows wrapping around his body like a living second skin. He exuded a quiet menace, different from Vasili, whose silent lethality had an assassin's precision. Noctis, however, carried himself with the calculated discipline of a battlefield commander—his stance was firm, his posture straight, awaiting his king's orders.
Alexander observed his new creation with a sense of satisfaction. Noctis was the embodiment of refined efficiency, a tactician molded by both life and death.
[System Notification]
"New Shadow Summon Acquired: Noctis (Elite Rank)"
Title: Shadow StrategistAbilities:Shadow Tactics – Can analyze enemy formations and battlefield conditions in real time, predicting movement patterns with extreme accuracy.Phantom Armory – Can summon weapons infused with abyssal energy, enhancing their lethality and adaptability.Nocturnal Instincts – Immunity to light-based attacks and enhanced perception in darkness, making him an ideal combatant in all conditions.
Alexander absorbed the information, his mind already crafting a plan. Noctis was more than just a soldier—he was a tactician, an expert in warfare. He would be the perfect asset for large-scale battles, capable of orchestrating engagements while fighting alongside his forces.
A slow smirk formed on Alexander's lips. "It's time to test your abilities."
Noctis inclined his head. "Command me, my king."
Alexander turned toward Vasili, his first shadow, who had watched the exchange in silence. Unlike Noctis, Vasili thrived in solo execution, an assassin who struck unseen and vanished before his presence could be detected. Between the two of them, his growing army was already beginning to take shape.
He had a mission in mind.
"There's a crime syndicate operating out of the docks," Alexander said, pacing slowly between his two shadows. "They specialize in smuggling—drugs, weapons, and most importantly, people." His voice darkened. "I want it gone."
Noctis straightened. "Do you require their leader eliminated?"
Alexander nodded. "Him and anyone who tries to resist. But I don't want this to be a simple slaughter. I want information. Who they're connected to, where their shipments are headed, and most importantly—who they fear."
Because if there was something a criminal organization feared more than losing money, it was who they answered to.
Noctis didn't hesitate. "Consider it done."
Alexander watched as Noctis and Vasili vanished into the shadows, their forms dissolving into the abyss. He would not need to follow them—this was a test, one that would determine how valuable Noctis truly was.
The docks were alive with activity, cargo being loaded and unloaded under the dim glow of floodlights. Armed men patrolled the area, their weapons slung across their backs, their conversations laced with tension. They were on edge, though they didn't know why.
They would soon find out.
From the darkness, Noctis watched, his vision effortlessly piercing through the dim lighting. His instincts flared, his mind instantly processing the battlefield. Two snipers on the rooftops, six armed guards stationed at key positions, another dozen moving cargo.
Vasili's whisper echoed through the abyss. "Do we move silently or leave a message?"
Noctis considered it for only a second. "We eliminate them efficiently. But the last one dies slowly. Our king wants answers."
Vasili didn't respond, but Noctis could feel his presence vanish into the night. That meant he agreed.
The first kill was silent. A guard leaned against a crate, exhaling a puff of smoke. He never felt the shadowy blade slide through his ribs, never noticed Noctis stepping past him before his body crumpled soundlessly.
The second fell just as easily. Vasili took him from above, a dagger severing his throat before he even knew death had come for him.
Then the chaos began.
The lights flickered, then died, plunging the docks into utter darkness.
Gunfire erupted, blind and panicked. Shouts filled the air as the remaining men scrambled, their voices laced with confusion. "We're under attack!" one of them bellowed.
Noctis moved like a wraith, his Phantom Armory summoning a midnight-black longsword into his grasp. He cut through two men in a single, precise motion, their bodies collapsing before they could react. Vasili was already ahead, his dagger flashing in and out of existence, taking lives before they could scream.
The last man standing trembled, his weapon shaking in his grip. "Please… don't…"
Noctis loomed over him, his violet eyes glowing like twin specters in the dark. "Tell me who you fear the most."
The man swallowed hard, his breath ragged. "We—we answer to someone bigger. The shipments—they don't belong to us! It's all under the control of—"
A gunshot rang out.
Noctis turned just in time to see the man's skull burst open, a sniper round having silenced him permanently. He snapped his gaze toward the rooftop, catching a glimpse of a shadowy figure disappearing into the night.
Someone had been watching. And they didn't want that information leaking.
Noctis exhaled slowly, his mind already working through the implications. Instead of reviving the smuggler, he grabbed the corpse by the collar and slung it over his shoulder. Their king would decide what to do with the dead.
Vasili emerged from the shadows. "A sniper," he murmured. "Well-trained. Not a simple hired gun."
Noctis nodded. "We report back. Our king will want to hear this."
As the shadows swallowed them whole, the docks lay in ruins. But something much bigger had just begun.
Someone had noticed them.
And they weren't afraid to kill to keep their secrets buried.
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